Sheet-piler



Oct. 30, 1962 D. BucclcoNE SHEET-PILER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31,1958 .QJ @o Oct. 30, 1962 D. BucclcoNE SHEET-PILER Filed Oct. 3l, 1958INVENTOR.

Gd:- 30, 1962 D, BUCCICONE 3,061,395

SHEET-PILE@ Filed OGt. 5l, 1958 6 Sheets-Qshee 4 INVENTOR.

Oct. 30, 1962 D. BucclcoNE SHEET-PILER Filed ot. 51. 195s 6 Sheets-Sheet5 x Ww INVENTOR.

United States Patent diana Filed Oct. 31`, 1958, Ser. No. 770,969 18Claims. (Cl. 271-68) This invention relates to appaartus for pilingmetal sheets as they are received from a high speed processing line .andis more particularly concerned with improvements in edge aligningdevices for such apparatus.

In the handling of metal sheets where the sheets are delivered from ahigh speed processing line apparatus has heretofore been provided foraccumulating the sheets in a pile on a suitable support such as vanelevator beneath an overhead delivery conveyor which apparatus includesmechanism for stopping the forward movement of the sheet and allowingthe same to drop on the pile beneath the conveyor and mechanism forguiding the side edges of the sheets as they settle onto the pile. Inorder to adapt the piling apparatus to the handling of sheets ofdifferent size, it is desirable to mount the end stop mechanism and theside guide mechanisms so that they may be adjustably positioned toaccommodate sheets of different size. Previous arrangements forproviding adjustability for the end stop and side guide mechanisms havenot been entirely satisfactory principally because of the time requiredto make the adjustments and the liability to damage through carelessoperation. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention toprovide improved mechanism for adjustably mounting the end stop and sideguides of a sheet piling apparatus so that the apparatus may be adjustedquickly to accommodate sheets of different size while it is in operationand the possibility of damage which may be caused by careless operationof the machine is minimized.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an apparatusfor handling metal sheets which comprises an overhead conveyor foradvancing successive metal sheets to a point for delivery onto a pilebeneath the conveyor and end stop and side guide mechanisms which aremounted on slidable carriages connected to driven adjusting screws whichare adapted to be rotated without stopping the conveyor for rapid andaccurate positioning of the end stop and side guide mechanisms.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a piler forhandling metal sheets an overhead magnetic conveyor to which the sheetsare delivered for deposit on a pile and .a pair of side guide deviceshaving carriages at their opposite ends which are supported fortransverse movement on end cross rails and equalizing mechanisms forholding the side guides in parallel relation while the distance betweenthe guide faces thereof is adjusted.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a sheet piler havingan overhead magnetic conveyor on which sheets are advanced for deposit na pile on a support beneath the same, a pair of side guides having theends thereof supported in sliding relation onV longitudinally spaced,transversely extending guide rails and a single adjusting screwconnected .at its opposite ends to corresponding ends of the side guidesfor adjusting the distance between the guide faces of the side guidestogether with mechanism for holding the side guides in parallel relationas they are adjusted by operation of the adjusting screw.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide ru C@ carriageswhich are mounted on transversely extending guide rails so as to permitsubstantially free vertical movement of the side guides when a liftingforce is applied thereto and thereby prevent accidental damage to theside guides or their mounting means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sheet handlingapparatus comprising an upright supporting frame, an overhead magneticconveyor arranged on the frame for advancing successive metal sheets toa point for deposit on a pile beneath the same, side guide memberscarried in parallel relation on the supporting frame and havingoppositely disposed, vertically extending sheet edge guiding faces,transversely extending, horizontally disposed, longitudinally spacedracks arranged on the frame, each of the side guide members havingrotatably mounted thereon a longitudinally extending shaft which isprovided `at opposite ends with pinions positioned for operatingengagement with said racks and a single adjusting screw journaled intransversely extending relation at one end of the supporting frame whichadjusting screw has a drive means and carries .a pair of traveling nutsadapted to be moved toward and from each other upon rotation of thescrew, and the side guide members each having a bracket at the endadjacent the adjusting screw with means forming a separable connectionbetween the nuts and the brackets whereby the distance between the sideguide members is uniformly adjusted upon rotation of the screw.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a sheet piler havingan upright support frame and an overhead belt type magnetic conveyor, anend stop mechanism with an adjustable mounting therefor, wherein themounting comprises a carriage on which the end stop is supported, atrack formation extending longitudinally of the piler on which thecarriage is adapted to move, a driven adjusting screw mounted inparallel relation adjacent the rack formation, and having a travelingnut thereon which is connected to the carriage so as to move thecarriage upon rotation of the screw.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pilermechanism having an overhead conveyor and means for mounting inadjustable relation thereon an end stop device wherein the mountingmeans comprises an elongate housing associated with the conveyor andforming a track for a carriage on which the end stop is suspended, anadjusting screw journaled in opposite ends of the housing and carrying atraveling nut which is connected to the carriage so as to move thecarriage upon rotation of the screw, and a device for supporting theadjusting screw at one or more points intermediate its ends which isautomatically positioned in accordance with the position of the carriageso as to prevent sag in the center portion of the screw. Y

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way ofillustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

IFIGURE l is a plan view of a sheet piler embodying therein theprincipal features of the invention, with portions broken away and otherportions omitted;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the sheet piler;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation at the delivery end of the machine, to anenlarged scale;

-FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l, to anenlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section taken generally on the line '5 5 ofFIGURE 4, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;`

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross section taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 5,to a reduced scale;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross section taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 5;Y

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 2, to anenlarged scale;

FIGURE 10 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 10-10 ofFIGURE l, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 1l is a cross section taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10, to anenlarged scale;

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal section taken on the line 12-12 of lFIGURE 10,to an enlarg-ed scale;

FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12to a still larger scale; and

FIGURE 14 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 14-14 ofFIGURE 11 to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away.

The apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings and which hasincorporated therein the principal features of the invention is designedto receive individual metal sheets 10 (FIGURE 2) from a processing line,or the like, and to deposit the sheets one by one on a stack or pile 11for removal from the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises an upright supporting frame structure 12(FIGURES 1 to 4) on which there is mounted a horizontally disposedvertically reciprocable bed structure 13 for receiving a stack or pileof metal sheets 10 and an overhead magnetic conveyor 14, the latterbeing operable to deposit successive sheets 1) in stacked relation onthe bed structure 13.

The supporting frame structure 12 comprises longitudinally spaced endframes 15 and 16 which are connected at the bottom by parallel,relatively spaced, longitudinally extending side beams 17 and at the topby similar longitudinally extending side beams 18.

The sheets 10 are delivered to the bottom run of the conveyor 14 of theapparatus by a feed conveyor 20 which is supported on a suitable bracketmember 21 on the end frame 15. The conveyor 14 comprises a series oftransversely spaced conveyor rail units 22 which rail units are themagnetic type, for example, as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,642,174,dated .Tune 16, 1953. The rail units 22 are supported at the receivingend of the apparatus on a cross beam 23 extending between verticalsupport brackets 24 on the upper portion of the end frame 15. At theother end of the apparatus the rail units 22 are supported on a crossbeam 25 which extends between the upright brackets 26. The belt drivingdrums or sheaves of the rail units 22 are mounted on a cross shaft 27which is journaled at its ends in the upstanding side brackets 26 andcarries a sheave 28 connected by a drive belt 30 with an output sheave31 on a motor reduction unit 32, the latter being supported on a topplate 33 on the end frame 16, which top plate 33 extends between spacedupright side plates 34.

The stack or pile supporting platform or table 13 (FIG- URES 2 to 4)comprises a series of rollers 35 supported on suitable shafts which arejournaled at their ends in laterally spaced side frame members 36 and acenter frame member 37. The table 13 may be provided with raising andlowering mechanism of either a mechanical or hydraulic type. A suitablearrangement for raising and lowering the table 13 is disclosed in mypending application Serial No. 692,319, led October 25, 1957, whereinthe table is connected at its four corners to nut carrying bracketmembers which are mounted for vertical travel on upright driven screws.In the present apparatus the table elevating screws would be housed inthe corner posts 38 and 40 on the end frames 15 and 16.

The apparatus is provided with a pair of longitudinally extendingparallel side guide devices 41 and 42 (FIG- URES 1 to 9) which areidentical except for being rights and lefts and which are mounted on thepiler frame structure 12 in an identical manner. Only the side guide 41and its mounting structure will be described, it being un- 4 derstoodthat the other side guide 42 is constructed and mounted on the machinein an identical manner.

The side guide 41 (FIGURES 5 to 7) is made up of a vertically disposedback plate 43 and an outwardly extending horizontally disposedreinforcing web plate 44 which is secured at its inner edge to the backplate 43 intermediate its top and bottom edges. A channel member 45 issecured with its open side against the lower portion of the inner faceof the back plate 43, to form therewith a rectangular housing, with theweb portion or inwardly directed face of the channel member 45 being ina vertical plane and forming a vertical guide face for engagement by theside edge of a sheet 10 when it is dropped by the conveyor 14. Thechannel member 45 is of a lesser height than the back plate 43 and thetop portion of the guide is lled in by a curved plate section 46 forminga rounded top edge for guiding the edge of the sheet 10 towards thecenter of the apparatus.

The side guide 41 is supported at its opposite ends on carriagestructures 47 and 48 (FIGURES 5 and 7) which are mounted in slidingrelation on track forming cross members 49 and 50, respectively. Thecarriage structure 47 at the entrance end of the apparatus is slidablysupported on a vertically disposed cross beam or track forming rail 49which forms one vertical side of the cross frame housing structure 51which extends across the end of the apparatus on the end frame 15. Thecarriage 47 (FIGURES 5 and 6) comprises a vertical plate 52 and ahorizontally extending plate 53 secured intermediate the top and bottomedges of the outer face of the vertical plate 52 and extending towardsthe entrance end of the apparatus. The horizontal plate 53 carries onits bottom face a downwardly opening channel-shaped slide member 54which straddles the top of the track forming cross rail 49. A bearingangle member 55 is secured at the bottom edge of the vertical plate 52on the lower end of a vertical filler plate 56 and is positioned withits vertical leg riding against the inner face of the cross rail 49 andwith its horizontal leg riding on the top of a horizontally disposedbottom plate 57 which is secured to the bottom edge of the cross rail49. The bottom plate 57 extends outwardly and has at its outer edge anupstanding plate 58 arranged parallel with the cross rail 49 and spacedtherefrom by an intermediate horizontal plate 5S to form with the crossrail 49 and the bottom plate 57 an upwardly opening housing in which anadjusting screw 60 is mounted.

The adjusting screw 60 (FIGURES 5 and 6) is suitably journaled in endplates 61 on the housing structure and is provided with right and lefthand threads extending from the center thereof towards the ends. Thescrew 60 carries a nut 62 which is confined between the downwardlyprojecting axially spaced legs 63 of an inverted U-shaped saddle 64, thelatter being secured to the bottom face of the horizontal plate 53adjacent the slide 54 and extending into the housing 51, with the legs63 cut out at their bottom edges to accommodate the screw 60. Theadjusting screw 60 carries at one end a pulley 65 (FIGURE l) which isconnected by a drive belt 66 with the output pulley of a motor reductionunit 67 supported on a cross frame plate member on the end frame 15.

The vertical plate 52 of the carriage 47 has a relatively narrowhorizontal ilange forming plate 63 (FIG- URE 5) at its upper end onwhich the end of the side guide member 41 is adapted to rest. The sideguide 41 is provided with a vertical end plate 69 and a horizontal baseplate 70 which is bolted or otherwise secured on the plate 68 of thecarriage. An equalizing shaft 71 is mounted in the guide 41 which isjournaled in the end plate 69 and carries on its end a pinion 72 inoperative engagement with a rack 73 mounted on the upper flange of anoutwardly facing cross channel 74, which channel 74 extends across theend frame 15 above the housing 51.

The side guide 41 is supported at the other end of the apparatus on thecarriage 48 (FIGURES 5 to 8) which comprises a downwardly openingchannel-shaped slide or carriage member 75 having mounted therein asimilarly shaped bearing slide 76 which straddles the track formingcross rail 50. The slide member 75 also carries a horizontally disposedkeeper member 77 on the lower edge of its outer leg which has its inneredge extending into a guide slot 78 in the outer vertical face of the`cross rail 50. The slide member 75 has a pair of laterally spacedvertically extending plates 79 and 79 secured to its inner leg which areadapted to provide a slot formation 80. An angular end bracket 81 issecured on the end of the side guide 41 which has a horizontal leg 82which is slotted at 83 to receive an upstanding pin 84 on the slidemember 75, the pin 84 being provided with a washer 85 and a cotter pin86, the latter being readily shearable upon substantial upward pressurebeing applied to the side guide structure 41. The top face of the slidemember 75 is recessed at 87 to receive the top horizontal leg 82 of thebracket 81. The bracket S1 has a vertical leg S3 secured to the endplate 89 on the end of the side guide 41 which is provided with avertically disposed outwardly extending plate member 90 which is adaptedto be received in the slot 80 formed by the inwardly extending plates 79and 79' on the carriage 48. The shaft 71 is journaled at this end of theguide 41 in the end plate 89 and carries a pinion 91 on its end which isin operative engagement with a rack 92 supported on the horizontal legof an angle bracket 93 which is secured on the bottom of the cross rail50.

The movement equalizing shaft 71 in the side guide 41 is supportedintermediate the ends of the guide 41 on a center bearing (FIGURE 9)which comprises a vertically extending post 94 having its upper endcurved to t the periphery of the shaft 71 and mounted at its lower endin a sleeve 96 which is secured in the bottom wall of the guidestructure and which is provided with a bottom plug 97. The post 94 iskeyed at 98 to the sleeve 96 and suitable oil passageways are providedwith an oil plug 99 in the sleeve plug 97 to facilitate lubricating themechanism. The support prevents sagging of the relatively long shaft 71.

The side guide 42 on the opposite side of the apparatus is arranged tocooperate with the side guide 41 and is carried on the cross rails ortracks -49 and 50 on carriages identical with the carriages 47 and 48 sothat rotation of the screw 60 moves the side guides 41 and 42 toward andfrom the center of the machine. The side guides are held in parallelrelation during their movement by the movement equalizing shafts and therack and pinion connections at the ends of these shafts. The racksextend at their inner ends to the vertically disposed back stop 100(FIGURES 2 and 4) so that the inner limit of movement of the side guidesis approximately the side edges of the back stop plate 100.

With the arrangement described, the side guides 41 and 42 are carried onthe track forming cross rails 49 and l50 so that any substantial upwardpressure will merely lift the side guides, shearing the cotter pin 86 atone end and raising the saddle 64 at the other end. This avoids damagesto the side guides and their operating mechanism in the event theoperator carelessly raises the table 13 to too high a point where itstrikes the side guides.

An end stop mechanism 101 (FIGURES l, 2 and l0 to 13) is provided whichis mounted on the center unit 22 of the conveyor 14. The end stopmechanism 101 cornprises an elongate track forming housing 102 mountedin longitudinally extending relation on the center conveyor unit and amovable end stop carriage structure 103 which is slidably mounted on thehousing 102. The end stop carriage structure 103 comprises ahorizontally disposed support plate 104 which carries on its upper facea pair of upstanding parallel bearing brackets v105 and 105 between theupper ends of which there is pivotally mounted at 106 an air cylinder107 having its piston 108 extending downwardly and connected at 109 tothe free 6 end of an operating arm 110 which is mounted in the center`of a cross shaft 111, the latter having its ends journaled inupstanding bearing brackets 112 and 112' on the upper face of thesupport plate 104. A pair of relatively long, laterally spaced linkmembers 1.13 and 113 are mounted near their upper ends on the crossshaft 111 and are pivotally connected at their upper ends by horizontallinkages 114 and 114 with the upper ends of a pair of parallel links 115and 115', the latter in turn being secured on a cross shaft 116 which isjournaled at its ends in upstanding bearing brackets 117 and 117' on theupper face of the support plate 104 at the opposite end thereof. Thedepending legs of the two pairs of links 113, 1.13 and 115, 11S arepivotally connected to the horizontal arms 118, 118i of a pair ofL-shaped bracketV members 120, 120. The bracket members 120, 120 have ontheir vertical arms 121, 121 inwardly directed flanges 122 and 122 whichare connected by a web plate 123 having at its center in verticallydisposed alignment a pair of bearing ears 124 and 124.

The bearing ears 124 and 124' t between a pair of aligned verticallyspaced mounting ears 125 and 125' which extend from thel center of theback face of the supporting or backing plate structure 126 for thebumper pad 127. A hinge pin 128 extends through the vertically alignedapertures in the bearing ears 124 and 124 and is secured in the mountingears 125 and 125 on the backing plate 126 to pivotally connect the plate126 to the web plate 123. A bracket member 130 extends from the upperear 125 which is connected to the center portion of a tension spring131, the latter having its ends secured to the bracket members 120 and120', so that the bumper support plate 126 is pivotally mounted forswinging movement on a vertical axis on the web plate 123. The

. horizontal movement of the bumper plate is cushioned by the aircylinder 107 through the linkage 110, 113, 11S, 118 and 120.

The carriage 103 of the end stop mechanism comprises a downwardly facingchannel-shaped slide member 132 (FIGURES l1 and 14) which is secured onthe bottom face of the horizontal support plate 104 and which rests onthe two laterally spaced track forming plates 133 and 133 on the top ofthe housing 102. The track plates 133, `133 have their longitudinaloppositely disposed or outside edges extending beyond the vertical facesof the two oppositely disposed channel members 134 and 134 which formthe vertical sides of the housing 102. The edge flanges of the slideplate 132 are provided with keeper plates 135 and 135 for retaining theslide 132 on the track plates 133 and 133.

The slide plate 1132 has attached along the center of its bottom face adepending bracket or cage structure 136 which has a neck portion 137extending downwardly between the track plates 133 and 133 and a cageforming portion comprising top and bottom plates 13S and 138 withaxially spaced end plates 140 and 140 which are bored to accommodate theadjusting shaft or screw 142 which is supported in the housing 102. Thescrew 142 carries a nut 143 which fits between the end plates 140 and ofthe cage 136 so that rotation of the screw imparts axial movement to thenut 143 and the cage 136 and causes the carriage 103 to travel on thehousing 102.

The screw 142 is journaled at its opposite ends in the ends of theelongate housing 102 and at one end thereof carries a sprocket 144(FIGURE 2) which is connected by the drive chain 145 with the outputsprocket 146 on a drive motor unit 147 mounted by a suitable bracketplate on the top of the end of the housing 102.

The housing 102 and the `adjusting screw 142 are provided with aslidable center support or brace mechanism (FIGURE 14) which comprisesthe axially spaced end block members 148 and 148 and a pair ofconnecting rods 149 and 149', the latter being secured at opposite endsto the block members 14S and 148'. The block members 148 and 148 whichare spaced apart a distance approximately half the length of the housing102 are formed with axial bores which accommodate the screw 142 and areconstructed so that the members 143 and 148 will slide freely within thehousing 102. The carriage 103 is mounted initially on the housing 192with the depending cage structure 136 and the associated nut 143 in thespace between the two block members 14S and 148 of the sliding bracemechanism, With this arrangement when the carriage 103 is moved in onedirection along the housing 102 by operation of the screw 142 the cage136 will engage the block member 148 and carry `the same towards one endof the housing 102. When the carriage 103 moves in the oppositedirection by rotation of the screw 142, the cage 136 will engage withthe opposite block member 148 and carry the center brace members towardsthe other end of the housing 102 so that regardless of the position ofthe carriage 103 the screw 142 is supported intermediate its ends withthe maximum unsupported distance being the distance between the twomembers 14S and 148'. This arrangement prevents sag in the adjustingscrew 142.

With the end stop mechanism 101 being mounted on the carriage 103 whichis slidably supported on the longitudinally extending housing 102 andconnected to the traveling nut 143 on the adjusting screw or shaft 142the position of the end stop 127 may be readily and quickly adjusted atany time without stopping the piling conveyor.

While particular materials and specific details of construction havebeen referred to in describing the form of the apparatus illustrated, itwill be understood that other materials and equivalent structuraldetails may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a sheet handling apparatus, longitudinally spaced upright endsupporting frames, an overhead magnetic conveyor arranged above said endframes for advancing successive metal sheets to a point Ifor deposit ona pile between said end supporting frames, parallel side guide memberscarried at their ends on said end supporting frames, said side guidemembers having vertically disposed parallel sheet edge guiding faces,transversely extending, horizontally disposed racks arranged on each ofsaid end frames, each of said side guide members having rotatablymounted thereon a longitudinally extending shaft which is provided atopposite ends with pinions positioned for operative engagement lwithsaid racks, traveling carriages connected to opposite ends of each ofsaid side guides, cross members on each of said end frames forming guiderails supporting said carriages for transverse movement, an adjustingscrew journaled in transversely extending relation on one of said endsupporting frames, a drive means operatively connected yto saidadjusting screw for rotating the same, said adjusting screw having rightand left hand threads on opposite ends thereof and a pair of travelingnuts thereon, said nuts being connected to the carriages which are atthe ends of said side guide members adjacent said adjusting screwwhereby the distance between said side guide members is adjusted byrotation of said adjusting screw.

2. A sheet piler comprising an upright supporting frame, an overheadconveyor and side guiding devices adjustably mounted on said framebeneath said conveyor, said side guiding devices each comprising anelongate frame having a vertical face extending longitudinally of thepiler, transversely extending bars on said frame which form guide railsfor supporting opposite ends of said side guiding devices, one of saidguide rails having `a pair of carriages slidably mounted thereon, eachof said carriages having an upwardly opening socket forming recess, eachof said side guiding devices having at one end a member which is adaptedto seat in the Socket forming recess of one of said carriages and asafety connecting means between said end member and the carriage whichnormally holds the member in the socket forming recess so that the sideguiding device and the carriage move transversely of the machine as aunit, and said connecting means including a member which is readilybreakable upon substantial upward force being applied to the sideguiding device thereby to permit the side guiding device to be raisedand freed from the carriage without damage to the side guiding device orthe carriage.

3. A sheet piler comprising an upright supporting frame, an overheadconveyor and sheet side edge guiding devices yadjustably mounted on saidframe beneath said conveyor, said sheet guiding devices each comprisingan elongate frame having a vertical face extending longitudinally of thepiler, longitudinally spaced cross members on said yframe which formguide supports for opposite ends of said sheet guiding devices, one ofsaid cross members having carriages slidably mounted thereon, each ofsaid carriages having an upwardly opening pocket forming recess, each ofsaid sheet guiding devices having a member on one end which is adaptedto seat in the pocket forming recess of one of said carriages and -aconnecting means between the end member of the sheet guiding device andthe carirage which normally holds the member in the pocket formingrecess so that the sheet guiding dcvice and the carriage movetransversely of the machine as a unit, and said connecting means beingseparable upon upward force being applied to the sheet guiding device topermit the sheet guiding device to be lifted in a vertical direction andfreed from the carriage without damage.

4. A sheet piler comprising an upright supporting frame, an overheadconveyor and sheet side edge guiding devices mounted on said framebeneath said conveyor for adjustment toward and from each other, saidside guiding devices each comprising an elongate frame having a verticalface extending longitudinally of the piler, longitudinally spaced crossbars on said frame for supporting opposite ends 0f said side guidingdevices, one of said cross bars having a pair of carriages slidablymounted thereon, each of said carriages having an upwardly openingrecess and an upwardly facing supporting surface with an upstanding pinthereon, each of said side guiding devices having a member on the endwhich has a portion adapted to seat in the recess of one of saidcarriages and a portion providing a downwardly facing surface forengagement with said upwardly facing surface, which portion is aperturedto receive said pin whereby said side guiding device and said carriageare held against relative movement in the direction transversely of thepiler while the side guiding device may move relative to said carriagein a vertical direction upon substantial upward force being applied tothe said side guiding device.

5. A sheet piler comprising an upright supporting frame, an overheadconveyor and sheet side edge guiding devices adjustably mounted on saidframe beneath said conveyor, said side guiding devices each comprisingan elongate frame having a vertical face extending longitudinally of thepiler, cross bars on said frame forming support rails for opposite endsof said side guiding devices, one of said cross bars having a pair ofcarriages mounted in fully slidable relation thereon, means holding saidcarriages against vertical movement on said cross bars, each of saidside guiding devices having at one end a member which is seated inseparably mounted relation on one of said carriages and a connectingmeans between the end member on the side guiding device and the carriagewhich normally holds the end member and the carriage in connectedrelation and which is readily separable upon substantial upward forcebeing applied to the side guiding device to permit the Side guidingdevice to be lifted and separated lfrom the carriage without damage toeither the side guiding device or the carriage.

6. A sheet piler comprising an upright supporting frame, an overheadconveyor and side guide devices adjustably mounted on said frame beneathsaid conveyor, said side guide devices each comprising an elongate framehaving a vertical face extending longitudinally of the piler,transversely extending bars on said frame which form guide rails forsupporting opposite ends of said side guide devices,

9 each of said transverse bars having a pair of carriages slidablysupported thereon, each of the carriages on one Vof said transverse barshaving an upwardly opening recess, each of said side guide deviceshaving at one end a member which is adapted to seat in the recess of oneof said carriages and a connecting means between said end member and thecarriage which normally holds the member in the recess and which isreadily separable upon substantial upward force being applied to theside guide device to permit separation of the member from the carriagein a vertical direction, said side guide devices having members on theother ends thereof which are secured to the carriages on the other oneof said transverse bars, said last mentioned carriages being adapted tobe lifted from their supporting bar upon upward force being applied tothe side guide devices, said side guide devices each having a movementequalizing shaft journaled therein which carries pinions adjacent theends thereof and tixed transverse racks on said supporting frame forengagement with said pinions.

7. In a sheet handling apparatus having an upright supporting frame andan overhead endless belt type magnetic conveyor having a bottom runadapted to advance successive metal sheets to a point for deposit on apile, an end stop mechanism comprising an elongate housing extendinglengthwise of the apparatus and supported above the bottom run of saidendless conveyor, a carriage mounted for adjustment along said conveyor,a pair of vertically extending, longitudinally spaced parallel linkspivoted intermediate their ends on said carriage, said links beingpivotally connected at their lower ends below said conveyor to one legof an L-shaped bracket, a bumper device mounted on the other leg of saidL-shaped bracket with a vertically arranged face which is adapted to beengaged by the leading end of each successive sheet as it is released bythe conveyor, means connected to said parallel links for resistingpivotal movement of said parallel links thereby to cushion the impact ofthe sheets against the bumper device, said housing having an elongatethreaded adjusting shaft mounted therein, said carriage having a saddlethereon which straddles sai-d shaft and a traveling nut carried on saidShaft and engaging with said saddle to move the saddle along the shaftwhen the shaft is rotated, and means to rotate the shaft in eitherdirection so as to adjust the position of the bumper device.

8. In a sheet handling apparatus as recited in claim 7, and a sha-ftbracing device mounted in said housing which comprises an elongateframe, said frame having at its opposite ends slide members which aremovable lengthwise in the housing and which are apertured to receive theshaft, said bracing device being approximately half the length of saidadjusting shaft and said end members being engageable by the saddle onthe carriage when the carriage is moved to predetermined positions alongthe shaft so that said shaft is supported by said end members at pointsintermediate the ends thereof so as to prevent sagging thereof.

9. In a sheet handling apparatus having an upright supporting frame andan overhead endless belt type co-nveyor having a lower run for advancingsuccessive metal sheets to a point for deposit on a pile, an end stopmechanism comprising an elongate housing extending lengthwise of theapparatus and supported above the lower 11m of said endless conveyor, acarriage mounted in sliding relation on said housing for adjustmentalong said conveyor, a pair of vertically extending, longitudinallyspaced parallel links pivoted intermediate their ends on said carriage,said links being pivotally connected below said conveyor to ahorizontally disposed leg of an L-shaped bracket, a bumper devicemounted on the vertically disposed leg of said L-shaped bracket with avertically arranged face positioned to be engaged by the leading ends ofsuccessive sheets as they are released by the conveyor, cushioning meansfor resisting pivotal movement of said parallel links so as to absorbthe irnpact force of the sheets against the bumper device, said housinghaving a threaded adjusting shaft mounted therein and a longitudinallyextending slot in the upper side thereof, said carriage having a saddledepending therefrom which extends through the slot in the housing andwhich straddles the threaded shaft and a traveling nut carried on saidshaft and connected to said saddle to move the saddle along the shaftwhen the shaft is rotated, and means to rotate the shaft in eitherdirection so as to adjust the position of the bumper device.

10. In a sheet handling apparatus as recited in claim 9 and a shaftbracing device mounted in said housing which comprises an elongateframe, said frame being of lesser length than said housing and having atits opposite ends slide members which are movable lengthwise in thehousing, said slide members being apertured to receive the shaft, and aprojecting member on said carriage engaging said end members wherebywhen the carriage is moved to predetermined position along the shaftsaid shaft is supported by said end members at points intermediate theends thereof so as to prevent sagging.

l1. In a sheet handling apparatus, an upright supporting frame, anoverhead magnetic conveyor arranged on said supporting frame foradvancing successive metal sheets to a point for deposit on a pilereceiving means beneath the same, side guide members carried in parallelrelation on said supporting frame, said side guide members havingoppositely disposed vertically extending sheet edge guiding faces,transversely extending, horizontally disposed, longitudinally spacedracks arranged on said frame, each of said side guide members havingrotatably mounted thereon a longitudinally extending shaft which isprovided at opposite ends with pinions positioned for operativeengagement with said racks, a single adjusting screw journaled intransversely extending relation at one end of said supporting frame, adrive means operatively connected to said screw, said screw having rightand left hand threads on opposite ends thereof, a pair of traveling nutson said screw, said side guide members each having a bracket at the endadjacent said adjusting screw with a portion of said bracket seated onone of said traveling nuts so as to move with said nut when said screwis rotated, said bracket portion being Ifree to move vertically relativeto said nut whereby the distance between said side guide members isadjusted by rotation of said screw and said guide members will moveupwardly of said nuts without damage if a substantial upward force isapplied to the lower face thereof by upward .movement of said pilereceiving means so as to engage said guide members.

l2. A sheet piler comprising an upright supporting frame, an overheadconveyor, a vertically movable pile receiving platform beneath saidconveyor, and sheet side edge guides adjustably mounted on saidframebeneath said conveyor, said side guides each comprising an elongateframe having a vertical face extending longitudinally of the piler,cross bars on said frame forming guide rails for supporting oppositeends of'said side guides, each of said cross bars having a pair ofcarriages slidably mounted thereon, the carriages on one of said crossbars each having an upwardly opening recess, each of said `side guideshaving at one end a bracket member which is disposed in the recess ofone of said last mentioned carriages so that the side guide moves withthe carriage when the carriage is moved transversely and the bracket isfree to move vertically so as to separate from the carriage, each ofsaid side guides having a bracket member on its other end which issecured to a carriage on the other one of said cross bars, the carriageson said last mentioned cross bars being mounted on said cross bars sothat they are free to move in an upward direction and separate from saidcross bars upon substantial upward force being applied to the side guideby improper raising of said pile receiving platform so as to strike saidside guides, an adjusting screw mounted adjacent said last mentionedcross bar, a pair of traveling nuts on said adjusting screw and meansconnecting said nuts and the carriages on said last mentioned cross barwhich permit upward movement of said carriages away from said nuts whensaid upward force is applied..

13. A sheet piler comprising an upright support frame, an overheadlongitudinally extending belt type magnetic conveyor, an end stopmechanism, and an adjustable mounting for said end sotp mechanism, saidmounting comprising an elongate overhead housing having means forming alongitudinally extending track formation above the lower sheet engagingrun of said conveyor, a carriage mounted on said housing for movementalong said track formation, a power driven adjusting screw mounted insaid housing in parallel relation adjacent said track formation, abracing means positioned intermediate the ends of said screw forsupporting said screw against downward lbowing, a traveling nut on saidscrew, means restraining the nut against rotation relative to said trackformation, said nut being connected to said carriage so as to move saidcarriage longitudinally of said conveyor upon rotation of said screw, abumper device having a vertical sheet edge engaging face, a bracketpivotally mounted on said carriage and depending therefrom, said bracketbeing connected at its lower end to said bumper device so as to suspendthe bumper device below the lower run of said conveyor and means on saidcarriage connected by a linkage to said bracket for cushioning theretractive movement of said bumper device when a sheet strikes saidvertical face.

14. A sheet piler comprising an upright support having end cross frames,an overhead conveyor mounted on said end cross frames, an end stopmechanism, and an adjustable mounting for said end stop mechanism, saidmounting comprising an elongate overhead housing having a slotted topportion forming a track, a carriage mounted for movement along the trackforming top of said housing, an adjusting screw rotatably mounted inlongitudinally extending relation in said housing, a traveling nut onsaid screw, means restraining the nut against rotation in said housing,said nut having a portion extending through the slot in the top of saidhousing and being connected to said carriage so as to move said carriageupon rotation of said screw, a bracket depending from said carriage andstraddling said housing, a bumper device pivotally connected to saidbracket, said bumper device having a vertical sheet edge engaging faceextending below said overhead conveyor and means mounted on saidcarriage and connected to said bracket for cushioning the retractivemovement of said bumper device when a sheet strikes said vertical face.

l5. A sheet piler comprising an upright support having longitudinallyspaced end frames and laterally spaced side guides, an overheadlongitudinally extending rail-like belt type conveyor intermediate saidside guides, -an end stop mechanism, and an adjustable mounting for saidend stop mechanism, said end stop mounting comprising an elongatelongitudinally extending track formation supported at opposite ends onsaid end frames above said conveyor, a carriage mounted for slidingmovement along said track formation, a power driven adjusting screwmounted in parallel relation adjacent said track formation, bracingmeans intermediate the ends of said screw to prevent downward bowing ofsaid screw, a traveling nut on said screw, means restraining the nutagainst rotation relative to said track formation, said nut having aconnection with said carriage so as to move said carriage along saidtrack upon rotation of said screw, a swingable bracket depending fromsaid carriage and straddling said track formation and said conveyor, abumper device having a vertical sheet edge engaging face connected tosaid bracket, and fluid operated means for cushioning the retractivemovement of said bumper device when a sheet strikes said vertical face.

16. A sheet piler comprising an upright support having longitudinallyspaced end frames and laterally spaced side guides, an overheadlongitudinally extending rail-like belt type conveyor intermediate saidside guides, an end stop mechanism, and an adjustable mounting for saidend stop mechanism, said end stop mounting comprising an elongate,longitudinally extending track formation supported at opposite ends onsaid end frames above said conveyor, a carriage mounted for slidingmovement along said track formation, a power driven adjusting screwmounted in parallel relation adjacent said track formation, bracingmeans intermediate the ends of said screw to prevent downward bowing ofsaid screw, a traveling nut on said screw and having a connection withsaid carriage so as to move said carriage upon rotation of said screw, aswingable bracket depending from said carriage and straddling saidconveyor, a bumper device having a vertical sheet edge engaging faceconnected to said bracket, and a fluid operated means for cushioning theretractive movement of said bumper device when a sheet strikes saidvertical face, said bracing means comprising an elongate frame, saidframe having at its opposite ends slide members which are connected insliding relation with said track formation and which are apertured toreceive said adjusting screw, said bracing means extending a substantialportion of the length of said screw and said end members beingengageable by said end stop carriage when the carriage is moved topredetermined positions along the screw so that said bracing means ispositioned with the slide members at points intermediate the ends ofsaid screw whereby to prevent sagging thereof.

17. A sheet piler comprising an upright support frame, an overhead belttype magnetic conveyor, an end stop mechanism, and an adjustablemounting for said end stop mechanism, said mounting comprising anelongate, longitudinally extending track formation mounted adjacent saidconveyor, a carriage mounted for movement along said track formation, apower driven adjusting screw mounted in parallel relation adjacent saidtrack formation, a traveling nut on said screw, said nut being connectedto said carriage so as to move said carriage upon rotation of saidscrew, a bumper device having a vertical sheet edge engaging face, abracket forming frame swingably mounted in depending relation from saidcarriage, lmeans mounting said bumper device on said bracket with thesheet edge engaging face ex-tending in lthe path of the sheets belowsaid overhead conveyor, means mounted on said carriage and connected tosaid bracket forming frame for cushioning the retractive movement ofsaid bumper device when a sheet strikes said vertical face, and abracing device for said adjusting screw which comprises an elongateframe, said frame having slide members at its opposite ends which areapertured to slidingly receive the screw, said bracing device beingapproximately half the length of said screw and said end members beingfreely slidable along said track formation and being engageable by ythecarriage when the carriage is moved to predetermined positions along thescrew so that Said screw is supported in said end members at pointsintermediate the ends of the screw so as to prevent sagging.

18` A sheet piler comprising an upright support frame, an overhead belttype magnetic conveyor, an end stop mechanism, and an adjustablemounting for said end stop mechanism, said mounting comprising anelongate, longitudinally extending track formation mounted adjacent saidconveyor, a carriage mounted for movement along said ltrack formation, apower driven adjusting screw mounted in parallel relation adjacent saidtrack formation, a traveling nut on said screw, said nut being connectedto said carriage so as to move said carriage upon rotation of saidscrew, a bumper device having a vertical sheet edge engaging face, abracket forming frame swingably mounted in depending relation from saidcarriage, means mounting said bumper device on said bracket with thesheet edge engaging face extending in the path of the sheets below saidoverhead conveyor, means mounted on said carriage and connected to saidbracket forming frame for cushioning the retractive movement of saidbumper device when a sheet strikes said vertical face, said meansmounting said bumper device on said bracket comprising a verticallydisposed pivot connecting rthe bumper device with the bracket forrelative swinging movement, and spring means for normally holding thebumper device with its sheet engaging face in a vertical plane which issubstantially normal to the path of advance of the sheets.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Sandaljian Nov. 3, 1925 Smitmans Mar. 13, 1934Buccicone Oct. 31, 1950 Schefe Dec. 23, 1952 Ziemelis July 2, 1957Buccicone Aug. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Deb. 9, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CIIRTIFICA'IE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,061,305october 3o, 1962 Dario Buccicone It is hereby certified that error'appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that th esaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 59, for "damages" read damage I column 8, line 2l, for"carirage" read carriage n.; line 5.6, for "fully" read freely Signedand sealed this 2nd day of April 1963,7

SEAL) Lttest:

sToN G JOHNSON .ttesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents

